Tattoos mean different things to different people around the world. For some they’re nothing more than a fashion statement, while others get them for cultural reasons, like the Māori for instance. Many get them as a memento of a time, place, or person. But some people choose to get a tattoo for an entirely different reason, such as to cover up a scar for example.
Check out this list compiled by Bored Panda, and our previous one, to see for yourself what we mean. Some of them conceal the scar tissue completely, while others cleverly interact with them, turning what was once something considered unsightly into something truly beautiful. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite! (h/t: Revelist)
“What inspired me to get tattoos to cover my scars was so whenever I was down or having a bad day, I could look down at my newly painted arm and remember that overcoming something can lead to beautiful things. My next step is to cover the scars of my other arm and my leg. It’s never easy, but by getting them covered up, it’s a little bit like closure.” — Lauren S.
“I got a Sylvia Plath tattoo. She’s my absolute favorite poet/author. Her quote ‘I am. I am. I am’ (from her book ‘The Bell Jar’) symbolizes that suicide could’ve been the end for me, but I’m here, ‘I am’ I am here, I am alive and I am determined to get through this. The cat is Sylvia’s drawing called ‘Curious French Cat’ and it also symbolizes self-harm and depression — but how it’s not the answer anymore.” — Shannon P.
jacluckycat 5 years agoThe Bell Jar was like reading a narrative of my own mind. That book means so much to me. Love the tattoo.
jacluckycat 5 years agoI have this exact same scar except I have two little holes next to it where the drainage tubes were. Never tattooed it, though.
“I saw this quote back when I was in seventh grade. I knew one day that I will have this tatted on me. I didn’t start self-harming until sophomore year in high school. As a freshmen in college last year, I finally got this quote on my body.” — Zari S.
Debra Starr Moon 5 years agoWhat a beautiful quote. All the best in your healing journey.
Annette Wendel 5 years agoI love the fact that the scar actually wasnt covered up, but instead the tatoo kind of circles around it, making the scar part of it
Out of chocolate 5 years agoIt took me a while. Thought it was antennae with floating dots on top…
Lakia Hawkins 5 years agoBeautiful, can’t even tell there was a scar with the way the tattoo is done
Typical Hungarian tulip, that we can observe as an element on traditional furniture decoration, used to cover up a deep scar left after an ateroma removal.
Lakia Hawkins 5 years agoIt’s great but they should have shaded in the older tattoo with more color because it’s fading
Lady came in today with this gnarly scar from skin cancer and all she wanted was to hide it even if it didnt hold up.
“Self-harm was a way I coped with my depressive and suicidal episodes. I would feel all this anger built up inside of me and I wanted to find some kind of release. But with depression, I wanted to hurt myself because I felt like I deserved it. So, my arms would almost be covered in cuts daily. It all started with a small cut as a cry for help, but very quickly turned into an addiction. When I had motivation to get better, I wanted something beautiful on my arm to cover these scars up. Now, I have a tattoo that says ‘This too shall pass’ with a peony that symbolizes healing. Whenever I have urges to self-harm, I instantly look to my arm to where I usually cut and I see this beautiful tattoo with a meaningful message and I just cry it out until the feeling has passed. It has helped me, and has also sparked up the conversation of mental health with others! It’s more than just a tattoo, it’s my journey to recovery.” — Reshmi C.
This is my second tattoo, done on June 5, 2012. I came across this phrase a few months ago and knew right away that I wanted it done. To make a very long story short, I’ve gone through many surgeries, severe allergies, and overall tons of health issues throughout my life (you can sort of see part of my main scar here that goes across my entire stomach and bottom left side). The number one reaction I hate getting is one like “Poor Lauren, that’s so terrible, I feel so bad for you!”. I don’t like to be pitied and felt sorry for over issues that I cannot control. I was born with what life gave me, and I’ve always just dealt with it without sitting around and feeling sorry for myself or wanting pity from others.
The Cube Cat 5 years agoI love how it turns the scar into a reminder , instead of trying to hide it
Kira Thesloth 5 years agoLooks like she’s lost weight in the second picture. Good for her if that’s the case, if not then that tattoo is awesome on multiple levels!
Sergio Bicerra 5 years agoI wonder what surgery leaves a scar like that. Anyway, perfectlly hidden.
piggy panda 5 years agobast one it is absolutely beautiful and is simple in color but complex in design love it
She received that scar from a nasty car accident. It was the other persons fault! Thankfully i was able to work over the scar, some can be super difficult to work on.
Andrea Van Delden 5 years agoWhen I see your scars I feel your pain. When I see your tattoo I feel your strength!
criminalgirl 5 years agoThat’s superb surgery by the way, perfect closure. Pity no colour in the rose.
Crystal Guider 5 years agoAmazing how the vines are used to cover the scaring. It just makes it appear 3d. It really gives it life.
Cathy Hurd 9 months agoI’ll have to remember this (I’m looking at a 3rd back surgery, 2 lumbar the next will be cervical)
Emily Rose 5 years agoI have a huge scar on my leg from multiple surgeries… these make me what to get tattooed so bad!
In the legend of Zelda, particularly in the ocarina of time and majoras mask, you can capture pink recovery fairies in bottles and release them to heal you. If you die while you’re in battle and you have a recovery fairy, it will automatically revive you, effectively giving yourself another chance to beat the boss. I got my tattoo as a reminder to myself that even though i don’t have a recovery fairy on hand, there’s still hope and I don’t still have another chance to try.
Silent Skeleton 5 years agoI hope this fairy helps you along your journey :o)
Desiree Summer 5 years agoI want to get a mandala type flower like that to cover my self harm scars on my wrist, and this is beautiful inspiration!
Gosho White
Donna Oades 5 years agoThis is amazing, you can’t even see the scars! What does the writing say?
Adrian Paduraru
Robyn Zelickson 1 year agoI think it’d be a good one to cover a heart surgery scar. It would represent the fact that you’re a member of the zipper club.
Hannah McCormick (Submission author) 5 years agoI Haven’t Self Harmed Since I Got This, About 2 Months Ago.the Semi Colon Represents Suicide Awareness. When A Writer Uses A Semicolon, They Could Have Ended The Sentence, But They Didn’t. You Are The Author. The Sentence Is Your Life. The Ekg Heartbeat Is For When I Contemplated Suicide.
Donna Oades 5 years agoI love how the bigger scars are used for the white shading, it all blends so well!
Brianna Kufa (Submission author) 5 years agoI broke my back in a paragliding accident. The tattoo tells the story of why I crashed, and everything I learned from it. Nobody notices my scar anymore. ?
James Peters 5 years agoVery nice, stylized, and refined — this should still GOOD in years to come — do not color it or add any more to it!
Louise Markussen
Irene Ulrich
Kim
Imola Török
Amy Gilbert
Anna Gooch
Robyn King
Richard Brown 5 years agoMy late wife had Chiari surgery and would have liked this idea… God Bless!
Gilma Caldwell
Nicolas Letarte 5 years agoI saw another similar heart beat tattoo. The woman told it was her baby’s lasts beats printed out from the electro-cardiograph. Very sad.
Gabby Vidmar
aroa ciruelosVictoria Kim 5 years agoI’d love to see a photo as an observer would see it. Intriguing.
Carolyn Higle
Lissa Hayden
Stacia Rodriguez
Kelsey Johansen
Kristen Simonelli
MagsNicolas Letarte 5 years agoWhat is that symbol? Look like a blend of two different ones
Missy Hopper
Elle Noir
Shannon Greene
Tanya Andersen
Gwendolyn Clark
Victoria Moore
Ingrid Starke
Tori Nyx
Wes Trav
Evelyn Paul
tulip_0186
Linda Smith
Sandi Barnes
Sandra Kramer
Meredith Elliott
Katie Kern
Ichiban Ue Akuh Muh
Misti Janovich
Maggie Griffin
Dieisha Campbell (Submission author) 5 years agoFrom Wound to Butterfly!!!
Alyson Tait
Tony Sosa
Cathy Busch
Rashal Gaudreau
Cricket
Cassandra Baglién
Cristal Aldaba
Cindy Jernigan
Kate Bentrup
Bradley Sierra
Jodi Tessmer
Lillie Cox
René Jansen
Dawn Hill
Magdalena Riquelme
Rose Landry
Bella York
Neetesh Jain
Ann C. Thompson
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